BHSU Pay for College - Student Loans & Grants

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan

Who is eligible?

Undergraduate students based on financial need.

How do I apply?

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at: www.fafsa.gov

BHSU will send you an award letter indicating your maximum Federal Direct Subsidized Loan eligibility and will provide you with instructions on how to accept it. Please review the Award Handbook for your rights and responsibilities as a student borrower and if you have questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

Once student has completed paperwork, the student is awarded aid. Subsidized Direct Loans are based on need left after all other need-based is awarded, except for Perkins Loans. When reviewing eligibility, all Subsidized will be given prior to Unsubsidized. 

Amount Available

• Maximum Annual Eligibility (beginning July 1, 2007):
  • Freshman -- $3,500
  • Sophomore -- $4,500
  • Junior/Senior -- $5,500
   
• Cumulative Totals:
  • $23,000 undergraduates  
  • Additional unsubsidized loan available for Independent Students
   

Cost & Fees

• up to 1.1% fee on each loan.
• Interest is paid by federal government during the grace period on loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2012. After July 1, 2012, all new loans interest begins at time of dropping below half-time/graduation. Begining July 1, 2014, the federal government will pay interest during grace period on new loans.

Repayment

• Interest rate is a fixed of 4.45% beginning July 1, 2017 for undergraduate students. New interest rate will be determined each July 1st of each year, with that interest rate fixed for lifetime of loan.   
• Interest is paid on the Subsidized Direct Loan by the federal government while the student is in school (except between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013, those loans will NOT have interest paid during the grace period or deferment periods).
• Repayment starts six months after graduation, withdrawal or dropping below half-time enrollment.
• $50 minimum monthly; 10-year maximum repayment period.
• For more information about repayment please contact your loan servicer(s).
• Review www.nslds.ed.gov for your servicer and total borrowings of federal loans.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan - Dependent Student

Who is eligible?

Dependent undergraduate students who do not qualify in whole or in part for a Subsidized Direct Loan.

How do I apply?

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at: www.fafsa.gov

BHSU will send you an award letter indicating your maximum Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan eligibility and will provide you with instructions on how to accept it. Please review the Award Handbook about your rights and responsibilities as a student borrower and if you have questions please, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Once student has completed paperwork, the student is awarded aid. Subsidized Direct Loans are based on need left after all other need-based is awarded, except for Perkins Loans. When reviewing eligibility, all Subsidized will be given prior to Unsubsidized. 

Amount Available

• The combination of subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans cannot exceed:
  • Freshman -- $5,500
  • Sophomore -- $6,500
  • Junior/Senior -- $7,500
• Cumulative Totals:
  • $31,000 undergraduates

Cost & Fees

• up to 1.2% fee on each loan.
• Interest begins at time of disbursement. Students are encouraged to make interest payments while in school, however, they can let the interest capitalize making the loan an extremely higher loan.

Repayment

• Interest as of July 1, 2017 is 4.45%; new interest rates are determined each July 1, with the interest rate being fixed for the life of that loan.
• Interest begins accruing from the date the funds are disbursed. The borrower may make the interest payment or have them capitalized. Payments may be deferred up to six months after graduation, withdrawal, or dropping below half-time enrollment. $50 minimum monthly payment; 10-year maximum repayment period.
• For more information about repayment please contact your loan servicer(s).
• Review www.nslds.ed.gov for your servicer and total borrowings of federal loans.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan - Independent Student

Who is eligible?

Independent undergraduate who do not qualify in whole or in part for a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan. Graduate students only qualify for Direct Unsubsidized Loan beginning July 1, 2012.

How do I apply?

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at: www.fafsa.gov

BHSU will send you an award letter indicating your maximum Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan eligibility and will provide you with instructions on how to accept it. Please review the Award Handbook and if you have questions please, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Amount Available

• The combination of subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans cannot exceed:
  • Freshman -- $9,500
  • Sophomore -- $10,500
  • Junior/Senior -- $12,500
  • Grad year -- $20,500
• Cumulative Totals:
  • $57,500 undergraduates
  • $138,500 graduate and professionals

Cost & Fees

• up to 1.2% fee on each loan.
• Interest begins at time of disbursement. Students are encouraged to make interest payments while in school, however, they can let the interest capitalize making the loan an extremely higher loan. Interest rate for undergraduate students is 4.45% on July 1, 2017; graduate students were 6.0% on July 1, 2017.  New interest rates to be determined July 1 of each year.

Repayment      

• Interest begins accruing from the date the funds are disbursed. The borrower may make the interest payment or have them capitalized. Payments may be deferred up to six months after graduation, withdrawal, or dropping below half-time enrollment. $50 minimum monthly payment; 10-year maximum repayment period.
• For more information about repayment please contact your loan servicer(s).
• Review www.nslds.ed.gov for your servicer and total borrowings of federal loans.

Federal Direct Parent Loan For Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

Who is eligible?

Natural or adoptive parents of dependent students who meet federal government eligibility requirements can apply. A credit analysis will be required. Please review the Award Handbook for your rights and responsibilities as a parent borrower and if you have questions please, contact the Financial Aid Office.

How do I apply?

The student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at: www.fafsa.gov.

Connect to the link for the Direct PLUS Loan Confirmation Form. PLUS Loan Confirmation Form 2017-18

If the loan is approved, the parent borrower is required to complete the Plus Master Promissory Note for Parents (MPN) at: www.studentsloans.gov.

Amount Available

Cost of attendance per child (minus other aid) is the only maximum on PLUS limits.

Cost and fees

• up to 4.5% fee on each loan. 
• Interest begins to accrue from the date the funds are disbursed.

Repayment

• Interest rate accrues on disbursed amounts; fixed interest rate for life of loan beginning July 1, 2017 is 7.0%; July 1st of each year a new interest rate is determined.
• Repayment begins 60 days after loan is fully disbursed. $50 minimum monthly payment; 10-year maximum repayment period. 
• For more information about repayment please contact your loan servicer(s).  
• Review www.nslds.ed.gov for your servicer and your total federal loan borrowings.

Federal Grants

Who is eligible?

Federal Pell and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity (SEOG) grants are awarded on the basis of financial need to undergraduate students. Federal TEACH Grant is based on GPA or academic testing and is available to both undergraduate and graduate students. The agreement to serve and counseling (found at: www.teach-ats.ed.gov) must be completed if student is eligible. TEACH recipients must teach 4 years in a high-need field in a low-income school as defined by the Department of Education. For additional information on federal grants please review the Award Handbook or contact the Financial Aid Office.

How do I apply?

Complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid at:www.fafsa.gov

The FAFSA is available after October 1 of each year for the following summer, fall and spring semesters' aid. Funding is limited for SEOG. Students who submit the FAFSA by December 1 (the priority deadline) will be considered for SEOG.

Loan Counseling

• Loan Entrance Counseling
• First time borrowers must complete Loan Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) on studentloans.gov (see link below).
  • Federal Direct Loan
•  Loan Exit Counseling
  • Federal Direct Loan
  • You can review your Federal Perkins Loan indebtedness on the NSLDS site link above, however for exit interview counseling please go to www.uasexit.com or contact University Accounting Service, LLC (UAS) 1-800-999-6227 for questions about your Perkins Loan.